Ironing board



Jan. 17, 1967 F. o MEATH ETAL IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 FIG. 1

INVENTORJ FRA NKLIND. MEA TH BY JOHN L.DOYLE BMMsQBd/bd ATToR/vevJ Jan. 17, 1967 MEATH L 3,298,325

IRON ING BOARD Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VENTORJ FRA NKL IN D. MFA TH y JOHN L.DOYLE B d oohM ATTORNEYJ United States Patent s,29s,s2s IRONING noARD Franklin D. Meath, St. Paul, and John L. Doyle, Minne- This invention relates generally to space saving housekeeping apparatus and more specifically to a portable collapsing ironing board, which may be compressed vertically and horizontally to present a compact package for convenient storage in a small area and also, in its open con figuration, a sturdy platform for ironing.

Ironing boards are commonplace in the home and are used to provide a work surface for pressing clothes and other fabrics with a hot iron. There are present in the art folding ironing boards which fold into a flat unit which can then be set up against a wall or placed in a closet. The problem with this type of board as stored, is that it is usually placed in such a position in the closet so that when the closet door is opened it is the first thing to fall out, or the slightest jar will tip it over. This invention is directed to the elimination of this problem and presents a board which provides a sturdy ironing table and a folding work surface which may be substantially reduced in overall dimension. The present unit can also be collapsed vertically to present substantially smaller vertical dimension than'that maintained during use. The portable ironing boardof the present invention is also provided with small vertical adjustments to accommodate users of various sizes.

Another problem, present in the prior art devices, is the question as to what is to be done with the hot clothes iron after use. Many home fires are started by careless placement of the hot clothes iron following use. Innumerable burns have resulted from a housewife leaving the hot iron in a place where it is not expected to be. To eliminate this problem, the present invention provides a heat resistant storage compartment or box in which the hot iron'may be placed after use without the necessity of waiting for it to cool. The storage box provided may also be'used for other articles which are used in connection with ironing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device of this invention. Dotted lines are employed to indicate the ends of the ironing table as they would be in the process of being folded;

FIGURE. 2 is a top plan view of the device. Dotted lines are employed to show hidden parts and also table extensions in extended position. FIGURE 2 is drawn to the same scale as FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section view of one of the telescopic joints of FIGURE 1, and is drawn to a larger scale than FIGURE 1. Dotted lines are employed to show the lock in an open position;

FIGURE 4 is a section view along line 4-4 of either FIGURE 1 or 3, and is drawn to the same scale as FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section along the line 55 of FIGURE 1 and drawn to a larger scale than FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the right end of the ironing table of FIGURE 2 and is drawn to a larger scale than FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is the same view as FIGURE 6 with the table surfaces shown extended and is drawn to the same scale as FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a section view along the line 88 of FIGURE 7, inverted, and is drawn to the same scale as that figure.

I 3,298,325 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 In the drawing, 10 is a base which is adapted to give sturdy support on a flat surface such as the floor. A vertical leg or standard 11 is rigidly secured to base 10.

Standard 11 is provided with at least one telescopic joint, and preferably two as are indicated at 12 and 13. Each of the telescopic joints 12 and 13 are identical and only one will be described; in this case, the telescopic joint 12. Telescopic joint 12 has both a female joint member 14 and a male joint member 15. It is necessary to provide some means for locking the male joint member 15 relative to the female joint member 14. To this end, several longitudinally spaced apart holes 16 are provided in male joint member 15. Holes 16 cooperate with other locking means described below to lock telescopic joint 12.

It is necessary that male joint member 15 not be allowed to rotate relative to female joint member 14 so that holes 16 always remain in the same line. To this end, male member 15 is provided with a longitudinal indent 17 which acts as a track. A follower, shown as a pin 18, is secured to female joint 14 to engage indent 17 and prevent relative rotation between male joint member 15 and female joint member 14. Additional male joint members, as 19, are for the sake of manufacturing economy, provided with a longitudinal indent 20. Indent 20 has such dimensions as will allow indent 17 to engage indent 20 as pin 18 does relative to indent 17 to hold male joint member 19 against rotation.

To lock telescopic joint 12 against vertical movement, a locking means 21 is provided. One convenient locking means 21 is comprised of an elongated elastic member or lever 22 which is secured longitudinally to female joint member 14. One means for securing lever 22 to female joint member 14 is demonstrated by the use of the rivet 23. Lever 22 is shown as being provided with finger grooves 24 to provide a ready grip. A fulcrum 25 is secured to lever 22 between the mid-point and the free end of lever 22. To keep lever 22 in longitudinal alignment with female joint member 14, a rivet 26 is placed through fulcrum 25. Rivet 26 is of a length greater than the thickness of fulcrum 25 and permits lever 22 to move freely along rivet 26. A sturdy weight bearing pin'27 is rigidly secured to the free end of lever 22. A hole 28 is provided in female joint member 14 in alignment with the line of holes 16. Pin 27 is of a dimension which will easily pass through hole 28 and engage hole 16 but sturdy enough to withstand the shear force imposed upon it by weight above. FIGURE 3 depicts pin 27 in position bearing the weight of male joint member 15 and all weight that that member carries.

To release telescopic joint 12, it is necessary first to manually raise male joint member 15 slightly to remove the weight from pin 27. Lever 22 is then pressed at finger grooves 24. Pin 27 thus, is withdrawn from hole 16 allowing male joint member 15 to be moved vertically relative female joint member 14. Thus, male telescopic joint member 15 may be raised or lowered until the next hole 16 is in alignment with hole 28, or for a substantial movement, passing several holes 16 depending on whether the unit is being collapsed for storage or whether it is being adjusted to accommodate a taller or shorter user of the board.

Telescopic joint member 13 has similar locking means 21 which it is not necessary to again describe.

At the top of standard 11 an elongated table 29 is provided. Elongated table 29 is adapted to fold along at east one trans-verse line. Preferably, for the sake of compactness and convenience, two fol-ding lines are provided resulting in two end sections 32 and 33, and a mid dle section 34. Since pressures will always be placed on the top of board 29 in use, it is desirable from a manufacturing point of view, to have the ends 32 and 33 only fold upwardly and then back down onto the center section 34 to provide a horizontally small unit. End 22 is conveniently pivoted about a conventional piano hinge 35, while end 33 is shown pivoted about a similar piano hinge 36. Piano hinges 35 and 36 are desirably located near the top surface of elongated table 29 to provide only upward pivoting of ends 32 and 33. Downward move ment of ends 32 and 33 is conveniently limited, as will be seen in FIGURES l, 6 and 8, by the flanges 37 and 39 on ends 32 and 33, respectively abutting flanges 38 of center section 34.

End 33 is for-med with sides 40 and 41 tapered to accommodate pant legs, etc. Sometimes, as for example when bed sheets or other large flat work are to be pressed, it is desirable to have a full rectangular shape for the elongated table 29. To this end, table extensions 42 and 43 are provided. Table extensions 42 and 43 are pivotally secured to end section 33 so that when elongated table 29 is in an open position table extensions 42 and 43 pivot about a vertical axis. One convenient Way of providing such pivoting is by loosely fastening table extension 42 to end member 33 by a rivet 44 and similarly loosely fastening table extension 43 by a rivet 45. Table extensions 42 and 43 are further supported by the slots 46 and 47 through which they respectively pass through sides 40 and 41. In normal operation, table extensions 42 and 43 would be the position depicted in FIGURE 6 where flanges 48 and 49 are abutting sides 40 and 41, respectively.

To control the movement of table extensions 42 and 43, a wheel 50 is rotatably secured to the bototm of end 33, as by the bolt 51. Bolt 51 passes through end 33 and the spacer 52 is used to hold wheel 50 away from end 33. Bolt 51 is retained by nut 53. Nut 53 is limited so that it cannot be tightened so much as .to bind wheel 50. To facilitate rotation of wheel 54} a handle 54 is provided secured to that member. A link 55 is pivotally secured to wheel 50, as by the loose fitting rivet 56 and to table extension 42 as by loose fitting rivet 57. Link 58 is pivotally secured to wheel 50 as by loose fitting rivet 59 and to tableextension 43 as by loose fitting rivet 6%). It will be noted, in FIGURES 6 and 7, that as wheel 50 is rotated counterclockwise, link 55 forces table extension 42 outward from side 38 and link 58 forces table extension 43 outward from side 41. When table extensions 42 and 43 are in the maximum outward position, depicted in FIG- URE 7, links 55 and 58 are in line with the center of wheel 53. Thus, forces tending to'push table extensions 42 and 43 inward are transmitted across the center of wheel 50. A locking relation is thus established and table extensions 42 and 43 are held out until wheel 53 is moved off dead center.

For further convenience a storage compartment or box 61 is secured to the bottom of center section 34. Box 61 should be desirably made of a heat resistant material which can stand up to the placing of a hot clothes iron inside without the necessity of first letting it cool.

To use the ironing board of this invention, one would have it generally in a position depicted in FIGURE 1. A vertical adjustment may be made by unlocking one of the telescopic joints 12 or 13 and raising or lowering it to the appropriate level for the user then reinserting the weight bearing pin 27 into a hole 16. When finished ironing, the user first places the iron in box 61, then unlocks both telescopic joints 12 and 13, reducing standard 11 to its minimum dimension by allowing it to collapse. Ends 32 and 33 are then folded up and over, onto center section 34. This results in a package which is small enough to be conveniently stored in small areas without fear of it flopping over at the slightest provocation.

We claim:

1. A portable ironing table adapted to be stored in small areas comprising: a base; a vertical leg member secured to said base, said leg including at least one telescopic joint to provide selective vertical collapsing for said leg, said telescopic joint comprising a male telescopic joint member and a female telescopic joint member; means for selectively locking said telescopic joint to maintain the selected height adjustment of said leg; said means for locking said telescopic joint comprising an elongated resilient member secured longitudinal to said female telescopic joint member by the end of said elongated resilient member most remote from the opening of said female telescopic joint member, said elongated resilient member including, a fulcrum member between the middle and the free end of said elongated resilient member said fulcrum member being adapted to bear upon said female telescopic joint member and a weight bearing pin secured to the free end of said elongated resilient member and directed towards said leg; said male telescopic joint member including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart holes adapted to receive said weight bearing pin; said female telescopic joint member including a hole adapted to receive said weight bearing pin and disposed to be selectively aligned with one of the plurality of holes in said male telescopic joint member; means for preventing rotation of said male and female telescopic joint members relative one another; an elongated table member secured to the top of said leg, said table adapted to fold along at least one line transverse to said table member to reduce the length dimension of the portable ironing table for convenient storage; means for selectively changing the shape of said elongated table; means for locking said elongated table member in an open position; said means for selectively changing the shape of said elongated table member comprising: at least one table extension pivotally secured to said elongated table member about a vertical axis when said elongated table member is open; and, means for moving said auxiliary surface outward from the periphery of said elongated table member.

2. The portable ironing table of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing rotation of the telescopic joint members relative one another comprises a longitudinal indent forming a track along the length of said male telescopic joint member and a track following means secured to said female telescopic joint member for engaging said longitudinal indent.

3. The portable ironing table of claim 1 wherein said leg includes at least two telescopic joints and means for selctively locking each of said telescopic joints.

4. The portable ironing table of claim 1 wherein a storage compartment is secured beneath said elongated table member.

5. A portable ironing board which may be readily collapsed to substantially reduce the overall dimensions so as to facilitate convenient storage comprising: a base; a standard secured to said base; at least two telescopic joints in said standard to provide a substantial reduction in the vertical dimension for storage and small adjustments to accommodate various sized users, each telescopic joint including a male and a female joint member, said male joint members including a plurality of vertically spaced apart holes; means for locking said telescopic joints comprising, an elongated resilient lever secured at one end to said female joint member, said lever disposed with the free end nearest the opening of said female joint member, said lever including a fulcrum bearing on said female joint member and disposed between the midpoint and free end of said lever, and, a weight bearing pin secured to the free end of said lever, said weight bearing pin being adapted to engage the holes, when aligned, of both male and female joint members to lock the telescopic joint; an elongated ironing table secured to the top of said standard, said table being adapted to fold upwardly along at least one transverse axis to substantial-1y reduce the horizontal dimension for storage, one end of said elongated ironing table being formed with tapered sides to accommodate pant legs and the like, at least one table extension pivotally secured about a vertical axis to said elongated ironing table when said ironing table is unfolded, said table extension being disposed adjacent the tapered sides of said ironing board and being adapted to be selectively positioned to change the shape of said elongated ironing table to a rectangle; and, means for selectively,"po-sitioning the table extensions comprising, a wheel rotatably secured to the bottom of said elongated ironing table, a handle for turning said wheel, a link conmeeting said table extension and said wheel, said link being disposed so that when said table extension is in the maximum open position the line of forces tending to close said extension passes through the center of said wheel looking said ironing table extension in such position until; said wheel is moved from dead center.

6. The portable ironing board of claim 5 wherein a storage box is secured .to the bottom of said elongated ironing table.

7. The portable ironing board ofclaim 6 wherein said storage box is heat resistant so that said box will safely withstand the temperature of a hot clothes iron placed therein; 5

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1872 Hemenway 108-144 7/1910 Lehman 108-146 8/1913 Prescott 108-63 4/1928 Anderson et al 108-75 10/1928 Hall 108-63 6/ 1931 Hallowell eta1. 312-281 12/1931 Anderson 108-146 7/ 1933 Buhine 108-25 3/1951 Raymond 108-146 2/ 1952 Sannebeck 108-146 X 10/1961 Park-ct al. 108-146 X FOREIGN PATENTS 2/ 1950 France.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

20 G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE IRONING TABLE ADAPTED TO BE STORED IN SMALL AREAS COMPRISING: A BASE; A VERTICAL LEG MEMBER SECURED TO SAID BASE, SAID LEG INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE TELESCOPIC JOINT TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE VERTICAL COLLAPSING FOR SAID LEG, SAID TELESCOPIC JOINT COMPRISING A MALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER AND A FEMALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY LOCKING SAID TELESCOPIC JOINT TO MAINTAIN THE SELECTED HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF SAID LEG; SAID MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID TELESCOPIC JOINT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RESILIENT MEMBER SECURED LONGITUDINAL TO SAID FEMALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER BY THE END OF SAID ELONGATED RESILIENT MEMBER MOST REMOTE FROM THE OPENING OF SAID FEMALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER, SAID ELONGATED RESILIENT MEMBER INCLUDING, A FULCRUM MEMBER BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND THE FREE END OF SAID ELONGATED RESILIENT MEMBER SAID FULCRUM MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BEAR UPON SAID FEMALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER AND A WEIGHT BEARING PIN SECURED TO THE FREE END OF SAID ELONGATED RESILIENT MEMBER AND DIRECTED TOWARDS SAID LEG; SAID MALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART HOLES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID WEIGHT BEARING PIN; SAID FEMALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER INCLUDING A HOLE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID WEIGHT BEARING PIN AND DISPOSED TO BE SELECTIVELY ALIGNED WITH ONE OF THE PLURALITY OF HOLES IN SAID MALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBER; MEANS FOR PREVENTNG ROTATION OF SAID MALE AND FEMALE TELESCOPIC JOINT MEMBERS RELATIVE ONE ANOTHER; AN ELONGATED TABLE MEMBER SECURED TO THE TOP OF SAID LEG, SAID TABLE ADAPTED TO FOLD ALONG AT LEAST ONE LINE TRANSVERSE TO SAID TABLE MEMBER TO REDUCE THE LENGTH DIMENSION OF THE PORTABLE IRONING TABLE FOR CONVENIENT STORAGE; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CHANGING THE SHAPE OF SAID ELONGATED TABLE; MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID ELONGATED TABLE MEMBER IN AN OPEN POSITION; SAID MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CHANGING THE SHAPE OF SAID ELONGATED TABLE MEMBER COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE TABLE EXTENSION PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID ELONGATED TABLE MEMBER ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS WHEN SAID ELONGATED TABLE MEMBER IS OPEN; AND, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID AUXILIARY SURFACE OUTWARD FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID ELONGATED TABLE MEMBER. 